With its bright color, snappy texture and bursting flavor, SnapDragon is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and a favorite among kids!
This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Crunch Time Apple Growers. The opinions and text are all mine.
So I thought for half a minute that I might take a picture of one SnapDragon. One apple set beneath a spotlight with a little soft music playing and calling it today’s recipe.
Because ~ when I received my box of SnapDragon Apples with their delicious extra sweet and juicy flavor, I thought to myself – how can one improve upon perfection?
One cannot.
However, I’m pretty certain a recipe that consists of Ingredients: One apple. Instructions: Lift apple from box. Run under cool running water. Raise apple to mouth. Crunch…might not fly.
So I came up with what I think is the next best thing. To highlight its fresh and delicious flavor without interfering with its integrity – SnapDragon Apple, Walnut & Chicken Spinach Salad with Feta & Cranberry was born.
With a salad, you get the full benefit of its juicy sweet taste as well as its exciting crispy texture. Not to say this scarlet beauty won’t be excellent in a cooked-down-dressed-up version (stay tuned!) I wanted to capture it, today, in all of its natural glory.
By pairing it with grilled chicken and grilled red onions, a scattering of walnuts feta and dried cranberries set atop a lovely bed of fresh spinach and dressed with a light apple cider vinaigrette – I couldn’t go wrong.
Grown in New York, the SnapDragon Apple was developed by Cornell University in partnership with Crunch Time Apple Growers. It contains antioxidant compounds that help with not only heart-health, but with delivering oxygen to the lungs during endurance exercise. It’s an excellent alternative to sugary treats making it a sure winner for kids to enjoy after a day of playing outside or running on the athletic field.
Are you wondering yet where you can run to get them? They’re available at select retailers around the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. Check the Where to Buy page on their website for a list of stores.
If you enjoy Honeycrisp apples, you will love SnapDragons with their similar taste and flavor!
Buon Appetito!
Apple, Walnut and Chicken Spinach Salad
- Category: Dinner
Ingredients
- Salad
- 10 ounces baby spinach
- 3 apples, cored and thinly sliced
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 4 ounces feta, crumbled
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1 lb. chicken tenders, grilled
- 1 small red onion, sliced into thin strips, grilled
- Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- 4 tsp. balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large serving bowl, combine spinach, apples, walnuts, feta and cranberries. Set aside.
- In a grill pan, over medium heat, cook chicken fully and until grill marks form.
- Once chicken is cooked, grill sliced onions until soft and slightly caramelized.
- Top salad with chicken and onions.
- In the meantime, combine olive oil with both vinegars and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Shake vigorously.
- Top salad with dressing.
You can also find SnapDragons on Twitter and Facebook.
Ciao!
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[…] the fridge all cold and crunchy, or as perfect as they are woven into the layers of a seasonal salad that’s loaded up with spinach, cranberries, chicken and feta, I knew it was time to add a […]
man says
best
Sammie Jo says
Wow! I made this salad for my family and my son’s girlfriend said it was the best thing that I have ever made for her. With that vote of confidence I took it to my sonority weekend, AGD sisters for 40 plus years. Another set of raves, and I sent out your link. I’m not sure how I found you , but I’m sure it had to do with food :).
Annie says
Thank you so much, Sammie Jo! So happy you all enjoyed the salad..and thank you so much for sending out the link! Happiness! 🙂
Kari Peters says
Honeycrisps are my favorite apple, so I’m sure I’d love eating these plain or in your awesome salad. I love the combination of ingredients here, it’s sort of similar to one that my family makes but you’ve taken it to a whole extra level of deliciousness!
Annie says
Don’t you just love a good crispy apple in a salad? I bet yours is fabulous!! 🙂
Mir says
Wow, a whole new apple for me to try! I do love Honeycrisps, so these look super promising. And they photograph beautifully, too! Love the lovely salad!
Annie says
Yesyesyes! You will love it! They are quite photogenic, aren’t they?! haha! Thanks, dear!
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen says
I love apple salads, and this one sounds amazing! I don’t use spinach nearly enough but it sounds so perfect in this salad. So YUM!
Annie says
I love spinach salads…and spinach & eggs…and spinach in my smoothie – I guess I do love spinach! Thanks, friend!
Stacey @ The Sugar Coated Cottage says
This salad is perfection! All the things I love on one plate and I love all the crunch. I had no idea a university could develop an apple for actual sale to the masses, I’ll check it out. Take care.
Annie says
Why thank you, Stacey! Yep…autumn on a plate! 🙂
Kathleen | Hapa Nom Nom says
Ooo.. my husbands alma mater – I’ll have to let him know 🙂 I’ve actually never heard of SnapDragons – but I do love Honeycrisps so I’m sure I’ll love these too! Annie, this salad is gorgeous! I love the combination of flavors – especially the subtle sweet and savory!
Annie says
Yes, please tell him! Cornell’s campus is so lovely…especially this time of year! If you love Honeycrisps, I am certain you will love these! They’re my new favorite! Thanks, friend! 🙂
Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks says
I would have totally supported you just posting pictures of these apples with instructions to wash and eat! I sure am glad that you made this salad too! I’ve never heard of Snap Dragon apples, but I love the Honey Crisp, so I’m going to try to find them. Then I’m going to eat some and make this salad! P.S. I sent a comment this morning, but I think it got lost somewhere – sorry if you get two! I’m totally not stalking you! 🙂
Annie says
If you love Honeycrisp, you will love these. Honeycrisp was a parent variety of the SnapDragon. Thanks, dear! Enjoy your salad! PS) Your first comment never got through. yikes. 🙂
Geraldine | Green Valley Kitchen says
I love salads with apples in them, Annie. Yours has so many great flavors and textures – a perfect fall salad!
Annie says
Love the crunch and color they bring…Thank you, dear!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
I haven’t seen those type of apples but I think we could try a substitution for the apples. The salad looks delicious and I love the ingredients you used to highlight the apples. YUM!! Great fall combinations.
Annie says
Indeed you could! Thanks for stopping by with a kind word, Marisa! 🙂
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
Walnuts in salad are kinda just one of my all time favorite things 🙂
Annie says
They’re sooo good, aren’t they?! 🙂
Kelly says
Haha I am such a big fan of apples so I would have been happy if you had posted your original recipe idea 🙂 Love that you added them to this delicious spinach salad though! It looks perfect!
Annie says
Haha! Thanks, friend! Nothing like a good spinach salad! 🙂
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Hahaha! I think your original “recipe” of just one apple would have been hilarious. I would have laughed, and promoted the crap out of it! Shoot, I would have printed out the recipe too and hung it on the fridge! 🙂 BUT, I must admit, this salad is preeeetttty dang delicious and I would have been sad to miss out on it! I had NO clue the SnapDragon Apple was developed at Cornell, very cool-fun fact of the day! Anyways, back to the salad (Sorry, I haven’t had coffee yet… i’m lacking focus!) This salad is all sorts of YUM! I love that it is loaded up with healthy, delicious and substantial ingredients! Nothing I love more than a hearty and filling salad! Fall Salad Perfection, my dear! I’m totally making this for my lunch and dinner this week! Pinned! XO
Annie says
Darn…I should have trusted my gut! Hahahhah! Well, thanks for the support…If you would have hung that on the fridge, you either really appreciate my sense of humor or there was a little too much pumpkin keg over the weekend! 🙂 Thanks, friend! XO
mira says
Look at these apples! And the salad looks gorgeous! Love everything about it! Will try it very soon!
Annie says
This has become my new favorite apple! Thanks, friend!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Spinach salads are my favorite! I love this creative twist with apples and chicken. Looks delish!
Annie says
I did not have my first spinach salad until I was in college…can you believe that? Anyway – I loved it and am always finding ways to add new flavors. Thanks, friend!